" Boy Meets World" may have started airing a year before I was born, but that didn't stop me from falling in love with it. The adventures shared between Cory, Shawn, Topanga, Eric and of course, Mr. Feeny are what drew me in, but the lessons I learned from inside John Adams High School are what give this show such a special place in my heart.

1. First things first, life is hard.

Truth is, life sucks sometimes and there really isn't anything you can do to prepare yourself for it. When things are really going downhill, it's important to keep moving forward (and maybe have a good helmet to break fall).

2. Don't be ashamed if you're a little different, that's what makes you who you are.

There's no denying Topanga wasn't your average kid, but she was confident as heck. She knew that what her peers saw as "weird" were the exact things that made her unique and she wasn't going to change for anyone.

3. Find a friend who will stick with you even in your darkest times.

No matter how much changed on the show, Cory and Shawn were always there for each other. When Cory and Topanga broke up, Shawn was there to give Cory hope. When Shawn lost his way, Cory was there waiting for him to come home.

4. And when you find that friend, make sure you show them how you feel.

5. Because good friendships take real effort.

Cory and Shawn were always there for each other, but that didn't come without effort. They fought, fell apart and had to pull themselves back together quite a few times, but any friendship worth having is a friendship worth fighting for.

6. Just because they don't share your DNA, doesn't mean they aren't family.

Shawn may not have been an official Matthews, but that didn't stop Mr. and Mrs. Matthews from loving him like a son. The Matthews family cared for, nurtured and protected Shawn more than his "real" family, and if it weren't for them, he wouldn't have made it out of high school. At the end of the day, family is defined by love, not blood.

7. Listen to your teachers, they know what's up.

It may sound cheesy, but teachers aren't just there to make sure you pass your tests and then send you on your merry way. They care about what kind of person you turn into, and we don't give them enough credit for that.

8. Perfection is overrated.

We all want to fit in, but if you try too hard you could end up with hair that looks like a hat. It's better to just be who you are and embrace your natural side.

9. You don't have to sacrifice who you are to be in a relationship.

I whole-heartedly believe that Cory and Topanga were meant to be together, and every time they broke up on the show, my heart broke a little more. But their time apart was necessary. They needed to figure out who they were apart in order to stay true to themselves when they were together.

10. Choose someone who will never give up on you.

We all deserve someone who continues to hold on even when we choose to let go.

11. Everyone takes a different path in life, and that's okay.

Sometimes the people you think you know best walk down a path you never expected, and that's okay. You can't control what someone wants out of life, but you can control how much love you show them when they make a choice that seems... questionable.

12. "Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good."

Life is short and what you do matters. Believe in yourself, believe in people and don't be afraid to lean on the ones you love.